Before all other centres, results came in from the two where votes were cast through electronic voting machines (EVMs). Khaleque bagged 777 votes at the centres and Monju 710.

The voting was held from 8am to 4pm at 289 polling centres across the city, which has 4,93,107 voters – 248,986 men and 244,527 women – in 31 wards.

Members of Border Guard Bangladesh, police, Rapid Action Battalion, Ansar and Village Defence Police were deployed to ensure law and order, and 49 executive magistrates and 10 judicial magistrates were also on duty.

Voting was postponed at three polling stations amid allegations of irregularities, according to Returning Officer Yunus Ali, who also said that voter turnout was 50-60%.

The allegations of casting fake votes by Awami league activists sparked vandalism in the city earlier in the day, according to local sources.

Monju’s supporters alleged that the ruling party men stuffed ballot boxes with fake votes after forcing BNP’s polling agents out of the voting centres.

Refuting the allegations, Khaleque claimed that the election was held in a peaceful and fair manner.